Algerian Radio
Mohamed Khaled, Algeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the African Union, announced the allocation of $8.8 million to support education across 19 countries.
This announcement came as part of a resolution by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC), which inaugurated its program for the month of August on Monday at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
During a session titled "Education in Armed Conflict Situations," Mohamed Khaled delivered the opening remarks in his capacity as the Chairperson of the PSC for this month. He explained that the $8.8 million fund is directed toward supporting education in conflict zones, aiming to prevent millions of children from being deprived of their fundamental right to education.
Ambassador Mohamed Khaled linked this initiative to the urgent need to protect children from the risks of recruitment, exploitation, violence, and displacement threats that severely undermine peacebuilding and sustainable development efforts.
He also revealed a new initiative by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to provide medical equipment for school clinics in the continent's most vulnerable regions.
Furthermore, the Council President called for enhanced protection of schools, teachers, and learners, urging strict adherence to International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law. He advocated for sustainable funding for education in emergencies and called for greater African and international solidarity. This, he noted, is essential to ensure that all children have access to safe, inclusive, and continuous education, thereby contributing to the consolidation of peace, stability, and sustainable development in Africa.
The session featured high-level interventions from:
- Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
- Amma Twum-Amoah, representing the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development.
- Gaspard Banyankimbona, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation.
- Sabrina Gahar, Chairperson of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC).
- Jainaba Jagne, AU Special Envoy for Children Affected by Armed Conflicts.
- Rebecca Amuge Otengo, Permanent Representative of Uganda to the AU and Chair of the African Platform on Children Affected by Armed Conflicts.
- A representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The speakers unanimously emphasized that recurrent attacks on schools, the military use of educational institutions, and the rising number of displaced and refugee children pose severe challenges. They stressed that this reality requires a coordinated and comprehensive African response, rooted in protecting the right to education as an inherent human right. It was heavily underscored that the right to education is a fundamental element in preventing conflicts and achieving sustainable peace.
Enhancing the Implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration
PSC members, AU member states, and representatives of AU partners participated in the debate, reviewing the progress made since the launch of this process in 2024 and exploring ways to accelerate the implementation of relevant continental commitments.
Interventions highlighted the necessity of reinforcing the Safe Schools Declaration and integrating education into humanitarian response and conflict prevention plans. Speakers also focused on expanding flexible and temporary education opportunities for affected children, advocating for enhanced psychosocial support and the securing of financial resources to ensure educational continuity in emergencies.
Concluding the proceedings, the PSC held a closed session dedicated to reviewing the draft outcome document and adopting the main elements of the final communiqué. The communiqué included a series of practical recommendations aimed at strengthening the protection of education and ensuring its continuity in conflict zones. It also mandated the improvement of follow-up and coordination mechanisms among various AU organs, member states, and partners.
Ambassador Mohamed Khaled concluded by affirming that "Algeria's presidency of the Peace and Security Council will continue to bolster African efforts to protect children affected by armed conflicts." He highlighted Algeria's deep commitment to safeguarding the right of the continent's children to safe, inclusive, and quality education.
This commitment, he noted, stems from a firm conviction that education constitutes one of the most vital foundations for conflict prevention and sustainable peace, inherently linked to building a safer and more prosperous future for the peoples of the African continent.
